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under the impression that spiritual merit consists in the testimony of one's neighbour, corrected their wrong belief. No one certainly will be admitted into heaven on the production of a certificate of good conduct from his neighbour.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
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'Be perfect like the Father.' Remember that life is more than meat, and the body more than raiment. "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself (Matt. VI. 34). And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind' (Luke, XII. 29). "But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you' (Luke, XII. 31). Have faith, and all will be well. The main thing to be avoided is attachment to the objects of senses. Have no love for the outward shape or form of a thing, for that is impermanent. If you attach yourself to a thing that is not lasting, you must come to grief. Be attached to the in-dwelling Atman alone which is eternal. There is no mother, nor brother, nor sister, nor any other relation of the soul in the World. One's true relation is one's own Self. All the other relations are false and elusive, like the Will-o'-the-Wisp; and the love of the false is ever fraught with evil. Hence, the Messiah declared: "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me (Matt. X. 37). To the same effect is the statement:
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Jain Education International
"If any man come to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke, XIV. 26).
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